LE BOURGET, FRANCE -- GE Aviation and KLM Engineering & Maintenance (KLM E&M) are celebrating the first successful five years of their long-term alliance. The cooperation was originally set up to build a long-term relationship between the two companies and to mutually leverage knowledge and experience.
GE Aviation supported KLM E&M in introducing two new engine types (CFM56-7 and CF6-80E) to their maintenance capabilities. KLM E&M was the first 'non OEM shop' to maintain these two engine types and is now an important part of GE Aviation's worldwide network. Currently, more than 50 engines - other than CFM56-7 and CF6-80E also CF6-80C2 and CF6-50 - have been directed to KLM E&M. Air France Industries maintains the GE90 in cooperation with GE Aviation. GE Aviation will support AFI and KLM E&M in introducing new engine types in the future.
Furthermore GE Aviation has facilitated KLM E&M in the development of parts repair Centers of Excellence and has utilized part repairs (plating & aero derivatives) to KLM E&M.
Contracts have been concluded on material solutions: parties share repair technology and operational feedback to continuously improve engines and their maintenance. GE Aviation Materials recently announced that it will open a distribution center at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.
GE Aviation introduced KLM E&M to the Lean Six Sigma philosophy. With the help of GE Aviation and with the use of Lean Six Sigma, KLM E&M was able to develop improvements such as engine waterwash, that helps save fuel and reduces the emission of CO2.
"Working closely with KLM, understanding their business strategy and finding ways to complement their core competencies, we have grown our relationship," said Brad Mottier, Vice President of GE Aviation's Services organization. "We have worked to assure KLM has access to the correct GE/CFM resources & technology, while working together to be more competitive and flexible for all of our global customers. Best practices have been shared between our companies, and collectively we continue to find more creative ways for the success of KLM and GE Aviation."
Peter Somers, Executive Vice President KLM E&M stresses that the success factor of the partnership is working together extensively: "Our long term relationship has been built through sharing information and having confidence in each other. I am sure that GE Aviation, AFI and KLM E&M will be able to further expand this successful partnership."
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.
Air France Industries and KLM E&M, which joined forces following the Air France KLM merger, are world-leading multi-product MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) providers with a joint workforce of 15,000, offering comprehensive repair capability, integration expertise, component pool operational support and a powerful logistics network. Together they support the aircraft of Air France and KLM as well more than 150 major airlines.